The Destruction of Termina is an event from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. If Link fails to stop the Skull Kid, the Skull Kid will use the power of Majora's Mask to cause the Moon to descend upon the land of Termina, destroying the entire world. If Link does not manage to play the "Song of Time" to reset the three-day cycle before 72 hours have passed, Termina will be engulfed in a huge blaze of fire. Afterward, Majora's Mask is shown, followed by someone, presumably the Happy Mask Salesman, speaking of Link's "terrible fate" while the Happy Mask Salesman's laugh is heard in the background. Unlike when Link plays the "Song of Time", no progress from the last three days is saved.

After the cutscene in which the Moon falls from the sky, the Majora's Mask 3DS version adds: "And so the angry moon fell from the sky, annihilating this world and its many inhabitants. All items and such gained these lastthreedays are lost."

Theory

Theory warning: This section contains theoretical information based on the research of one or several other users. It has not been officially verified by Nintendo and its factual accuracy is disputed.

Some believe that the Happy Mask Salesman saves Link by resetting the three-day cycle. Some evidence for this theory includes the prior laugh and quotation of the Happy Mask Salesman, and the first sentence he speaks to Link when he restarts under the Clock Tower, which is not something he says to Link during any other time loop, though nothing happens that directly suggests the Happy Mask Salesman does anything to save Link.

Others also believe that the sudden draw-back to the very beginning without the use of the Song of Time, can somehow be interpreted as Link's very own indirect doing. The 'Resetting' of the Time Cycle, may be attributed to Link's dormant abilities as The Hero of Time. Therefore, when faced with an inescapable scenario (such as the moon crashing and facing the incoming firewall) Link's survival instinct took over, allowing his Hero of Time spirit to awaken to save his life.

Another theory is that the Goddess of Time resets time, keeping Link from dying. Evidence supporting this is that Princess Zelda told Link, "The Goddess of Time is protecting you." It is possible that the Goddess of Time is resetting time either to prevent the death of the Hero of Time or to prevent the destruction of Termina. Both of these motives are plausible, as it seems that the Goddess of Time is a respected Deity in both Hyrule and Termina.